How to hire a craftsman

How to hire a craftsman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step craftsman hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a craftsman job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new craftsman
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a craftsman do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The craftsman hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect craftsman also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of craftsmen and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Craftsman	Description	Hourly rate
   Craftsman	Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create handmade objects, such as pottery, glassware, textiles, and other objects that are designed to be functional... Show more	$13-30
   Section Chief	A section chief's job varies with the type of organization. In most cases, a section chief is the head of a given section in an organization that is tasked with performing certain duties... Show more	$17-78
   Journeyman	A journeyman is an experienced worker whose role will vary on the line of industry where one is involved. They work without supervision from a master craftsman... Show more	$18-39

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Ladders
   • On-The-Job Training
   • Hand Tools
   • Troubleshoot
   • Corrective Action
   • USAF
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Plumbing
   • System Components
   • Test Equipment
   • Oil Gas
   • Safety Regulations
   • Electrical Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage intermediate-level maintenance on fighter aircraft release and gun systems.
   • Realign QA inspections and reset times to known lower maintenance operations - improve effectiveness of inspections and reduce impact on operations.
   • Direct program audits and QA monitors.
   • Analyze all training and certification of assign airmen and NCO's.
   • Unite StatesWeld & fabricate stainless, copper, aluminum and carbon steel.
   • Design and create stencils, decals, and paint masks using advance vinyl cutting equipment.

   More craftsman duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your craftsman job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A craftsman salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a craftsman in Georgia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level craftsman usually earns less than a senior-level craftsman. Additionally, a craftsman with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average craftsman salary

   $43,078yearly

   $20.71 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level craftsman salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average craftsman salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$51,952	$25
   2	Maryland	$50,633	$24
   3	Ohio	$50,047	$24
   4	Utah	$47,151	$23
   5	Illinois	$46,365	$22
   6	North Carolina	$43,988	$21
   7	Tennessee	$41,830	$20
   8	Texas	$41,730	$20
   9	Massachusetts	$41,499	$20
   10	Arizona	$41,238	$20
   11	Montana	$41,033	$20
   12	Washington	$40,449	$19
   13	Louisiana	$40,383	$19
   14	Michigan	$40,153	$19
   15	New York	$39,996	$19
   16	South Dakota	$39,648	$19
   17	South Carolina	$39,364	$19
   18	Florida	$37,561	$18
   19	Colorado	$37,439	$18
   20	Georgia	$35,963	$17

   Average craftsman salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pluralsight	$66,116	$31.79
   2	Marathon Petroleum	$56,585	$27.20
   3	HollyFrontier	$53,177	$25.57
   4	Armstrong Flooring	$52,191	$25.09
   5	Handyman Connection	$47,943	$23.05	66
   6	Tradesmen International	$47,505	$22.84	2
   7	Chevron	$47,391	$22.78
   8	1-800 WATER DAMAGE	$45,931	$22.08
   9	Kiewit	$45,619	$21.93	3
   10	Shaw Industries	$45,303	$21.78
   11	Canyon Construction	$45,292	$21.77
   12	Monrovia	$44,684	$21.48	3
   13	Bunge	$44,483	$21.39
   14	TIC Holdings Inc	$43,617	$20.97
   15	Structural Group	$42,532	$20.45
   16	One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning	$42,368	$20.37	4
   17	Premier Technology	$42,240	$20.31
   18	Epitec	$42,183	$20.28
   19	Structural Preservation Systems LLC	$41,998	$20.19
   20	Servpro	$41,978	$20.18

4. Writing a craftsman job description

   A good craftsman job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a craftsman job description:

   Craftsman job description example

   Job Title: Craftsman - Professional Handyman Department: Handyman Services Reports To: Director of Business Development / Office Manager FLSA Status) Non-Exempt/Hourly $24 to $30 an Hour D.O.E. and Availability Position Summary Craftsman - Professional Handyman role will be responsible for ensuring quality craftsmanship and delivering 100% Customer satisfaction . Benefits: -Health insurance (After 90 days) -PTO (After 90 days) -Company cell phone -Company vehicle - with proven track record if there is an available vehicle) -Company Card for job expenses and gas -Company uniform -Paid holidays (New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas) Essential Duties & Responsibilities • Able to analyze a problem independently with strong problem-solving skills to determine a prompt solution. • Prepare estimate on repairs along with timeline and budge to present to customer in a professional manner. • Conduct repairs or complete projects in the trades of carpentry, tiling, drywall, plumbing and electrical work and other handyman work. • Ability to effectively communicate with other craftsman's, homeowners, suppliers, property managers, commercial customers, and Ace Handyman Management regarding projects, timelines, and budgets. • Must be able to manage project from start to finish and complete within estimate and/or budget • Must produce quality Craftsmanship that delivers 100% customer satisfaction. Job Qualifications and Skills • Successful track record as Craftsman - Professional Handyman, strongly preferred • Ability to perform electrical, plumbing, tile, and carpentry work and other handyman work • Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills • Own standard set of tools to perform all the above trades • Have reliable transportation, current auto insurance, and valid driver's license. • Able to commute verbally and in writing in a timely and effectively manner with a professional attitude • Great Customer Service skills with interpersonal skills to interactive in a positive manner with a wide variety of different customers • Strong documentation and invoicing skills • Estimates and budget skills for repairs or project work small or large • Time management skills • Demonstrate a Professional appearance and demeanor • Able to handle conflict with customers and resolve issue to customer satisfaction Physical Demand • Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, pull, or otherwise move objects. • Climb stairs and ladders using proper safety measures • Bending, Stooping, Twisting, and Reaching • Standing for lengthy periods of time (up to 10 hours or more) • Operate heavy machinery as needed Work Environment • Moderate noise working with power tools and equipment • Occasionally employee will be in an environment with: o Wet or humid conditions o Extreme cold or hot weather • Ability to work fluctuating and flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays to meet the needs of the business • Ability to work other positions as needed to fill business needs and cover shifts within the retail operations • Follow all COVID-19 protocols as directed by management and local ordinances including wearing of masks and gloves at all time The purpose of this position description is to serve as a general summary and overview of the major duties and responsibilities of the job. It is not intended to represent the entirety of the job nor is it intended to be all-inclusive. Therefore, the position may be required or requested to perform for BBCO & BBCO Handyman LLC other work duties not specifically listed herein. Management reserves the right to modify, defer or rescind this position description at any time, with or without prior notice. Job Requirements
   Requirements
   
   lifting 50 to 100 lbs reliable transportation - work van or truck $24-$30
   
   Wage
   
   $24-$30
   
   Additional Info
   
   MUST PROVIDE OWN TOOLS - we have an employee discount for tools at our Ace Hardware stores. Company vehicle may be provided with proven track record - based on vehicle availability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right craftsman for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your craftsman job on Zippia to find and recruit craftsman candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit craftsmen, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new craftsman

   Once you've found the craftsman candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new craftsman. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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